Outfit of the Day - The Snuggly Jumper

In the run up to Christmas, I may have indulged in plenty of baked cheese, tubs of Roses, wine, Champagne and cured meats a plenty. Whilst I regret nothing when it comes to food, it did mean that my body confidence wasn't exactly sky high and it's times like these that I fancy hiding my tummy a little more than I usually would.

Today I'm wearing:

Jeans: Oasis

Boots: H by Hudson

Shirt: Stradivarius 

Jumper: Oliver Bonas

Jacket: Oasis

Gloves: Accessorize 

We took these shots on a very miserable day in Brighton, the rain really wouldn't let up which made it kinda tricky to get shots of my ensemble in. Never one to be beaten by the British weather, Ad and I took shelter for a hot chocolate and a mammoth slice of cake. We all know what a pair of black skinny jeans look like after all!

As you can see, up top I'm wearing a pleather moto style jacket which I reckon gives the look a little more structure. The loose boyfriend jumper with the orange neon stitching adds an element of fun, whilst the shirt keeps things kinda kooky. A little like me I suppose?

As the weather really was appalling my hair had fallen flat, but I'd pre-empted the rain and opted for super minimal make-up. A slick of tinted moisturiser, some neutral eyeshadow and a slick of mascara (waterproof obviously). 

When it's nippy, I find lots of light looser layers are the best way to keep warm, what about you guys?

In case you were wondering about that cake, the above photo is just a small selection of what they had on offer. The carrot cake I ordered was so huge, I actually had to get the remnants popped into a box to take home as I just couldn't finish it.

How do you guys keep snuggly and stylish in the winter? How do you layer up?

Outfit of the Day - The Chunky Knit

Perhaps my favourite thing to do post Christmas, is shop the sales (online of course) and this year was no different. I'd been window shopping for a couple of weeks prior to Christmas and therefore had a pretty good idea about what I wanted to get my mitts on come boxing day. This of course left me able to relax in my toasty living room simply waiting for my orders to arrive.

One such piece features in today's post and is from one of my favourite stores, Oasis. I apologise in advance for the darker photos #1st World Blogger Problems!

Today I'm wearing:-

Coat: Warehouse - sadly I purchased this moto inspired number last year so there's no link

Scarf: Oliver Bonas - this was a Christmas present and I can't spot it online, however THIS is something similar 

Necklace: Hema - £4 

Jumper Dress: Oasis - £25 in the sale HERE

Boots: Aldo however, they're about 6 years old now and so I don't have a link I'm afraid

I am totally in love with this dress, it's super fluffy and incredibly soft. The roll neck is nice and roomy which makes things feel lovely and cosy. The only downside to this dress is that the fluff does have a tendency to go absolutely everywhere. It's cool though, I have a roller tucked away under the sink.

In the shot above you get a bit more of a feel for both the texture of the knit and the pattern. Given the pattern, I thought this geometric style necklace from Hema was a nice addition to bring a little more interest to the dress.

In the colder months, my default is tights, leggings and anything that will generally make me feel warm and snugly should I decide to venture outside (BOOOOOO!). That said, this combo ticks all the right boxes for me the faux shearling collar, the gorgeous super long scarf and the slouchy boots. Comfort central here we come.

Finally, because I'm such a good person, here's a shot of me pulling my best Spice Force 5 pose. I can tell I'm on the edge of cracking into a big old grin. Oh yes, I indulged my inner child over Christmas, and it was frikken awesome.

Did you manage to spot any bargains in the Christmas Sales? How would you style a jumper dress? 

Outfit of the Day - Pretty in Pink

A couple of weekends ago we started the celebrations for Ad's 30th Birthday! As a birthday treat I took Ad to see Imogen Heap at the Roundhouse in Camden so I wanted to wear something comfy enough that I could stand on my feet for 4 hours (we opted for standing tickets so we could sneak as close to the stage as possible), something that would keep me warm on the walk home but I also needed something that wouldn't make me overheat in the concert hall either. Wow, that's a long list of needs eh?

Whilst the weather in the UK has taken a turn for the worst, I don't think you can beat a pair of super cute shorts!

This week I'm wearing a mix of goodies, I think everything is from a different store but that's what makes fashion fun eh?

Top: Adjustable Cami - Primark  

Jumper: Oliver Bonas

Shorts: Zara

Shoes: Accessorize

Bag: Marks & Spencer

I picked these cute culotte style numbers up months ago as I fell in love with the print! The mix of purple, red and a variety of pinks means your outfit can be kept summery in feel when the weather is peachy, yet when the temperature drops, the shorts can be paired with more autumnal plum based shades. The shorts sit slightly higher on the waist than most and have a concealed zip which keep things sweet and delicate. As you've probably spotted they also have pockets which came in handy mid-concert when I didn't have the space to keep diving into my bag for bits and pieces.

On this occasion I chose to keep my outfit fairly girly and added a light sweater to keep me warm on the walk home. The cut out detailing kept the whole thing feeling pretty and feminine but I'll be honest, this sweater has a tendency to catch if you're not careful so it isn't always the most practical of pieces. I love the whole slouchy feel to this sweater, comfort over practicality and all that jazz I suppose.

Now, onto my favourite part of this outfit my shoes, I actually picked these up from Accessorize in the sale and I can't get enough of them. At first I wasn't quite convinced by the whole slipper trend but the light grey colour and pink flamingos just make me smile. I mean, heels and concerts aren't really the best choice if you're standing so these just seemed to fit the bill in terms of my needs.

Aren't they cute? Whilst my feet were a little achy towards the end of the evening, there's no doubting that these were the best shoes for the job.

What do you think of this outfit? How would you style these shorts?

What Laura Wants No.1

As many of you may or may not know I've recently been confined to the four walls of our flat for the past three weeks and have only been able to leave for fairly short bursts on my crutches (in true "Walt Jnr" style) while I get used to using them.

Whilst the prospect of being unable to exercise for 3 months has been a bit a blow, especially in the run up to Christmas, I have been reintroduced to the beauty of online shopping.  As such, I thought I'd share with you some of the things which are currently on my hit list.

First up is this gorgeous handbag from Linea at House of Fraser, the Polly Tote Bag is £69 and is absolutely gorgeous.  The side panels of the bag are black with a deep plum colour to the front and back with gold stud detailing to give it that rock chick/biker edge which is so on trend at the moment. Plus, the plum colour is great for the upcoming winter months; I can guarantee you'll be seeing this colour everywhere on the high street within the next few weeks.

Next, I am a sucker for anything with butterflies on and the Hollie Dress from Oasis is an ideal transitional piece to take you from autumn to winter.  Long sleeves will help to keep out the cold, and the leather trimmed collar means that again, this is bang-on trend without being overpowering. It's a subtle way to wear leather without being over the top.  I'll be wearing this with tights and some flat boots for the foreseeable future, I know this is What Laura Wants, but I've decided I like it to much to miss out *cough* .  You can pick yours up for £45, but be quick, I reckon it'll go quickly.

Ok, those of you not in London may not have heard of Oliver Bonas but I can assure you, they're definitely worth your time.  They sell jewellery, all sorts for the home and a quirky selection of clothing which always leaves me ooooohing and aahhhing every time I visit. Their Silver Sealion and Pearl Ball Necklace is no exception to this rule being an understated way to wear something a little different. It's gorgeous and at £32 it's a bit of a bargain.  If you're a fan of unusual or interesting jewellery, their online store has a great selection  of goodies and some of it's even in the sale!

So, for my final item, I have to confess, I am a product junkie.  When it comes to toiletries I have a bit of a habit of hoarding for fear of running out.  Soap & Glory are one of my bathroom obsessions, their products smell incredible and given that they're related to the Spa company Bliss  I am confident that everything in their range does what it says on the tin at just a fraction of the price.  The Breakfast Scrub uses oats and sugar to exfoliate and is scented with maple, oats and honey. It always makes me smile while in the shower, I find the smell of maple syrup on pancakes to be quite comforting.  It leaves you smelling good enough to eat and I'm desperate to get my hands on some more.  At £8 it's a product addiction that beauty addicts won't struggle to keep up with.

What's on your hit list at the moment, I'd love to know!